In 1873, Anishinnaabe leaders and Canada signed Treaty #3. In the Treaty #3 region of Northwestern Ontario, at the southeast end of Lake of the Woods, there lies a 1600 acre reserve named the Assabaska shoreline reserve. This land connected the reserves at Little Grassy and Big Grassy Rivers, and was set aside by the federal government as Indian reserve in 1880 for councillor May-suah-ash and families. According to the original Treaty The Big Grassy River was part of the reserve.
The First Nations’ action indicates that Indian Reserve 35E1, also known as the “Assabaska Shoreline Reserve,” was “relinquished” to the Province of Ontario by the federal government in 1931 without first notifying the First Nations or securing a surrender of the land as required by the Indian Act.
The lands in question consist of 1600 acres along the shoreline of the Lake of the Woods in the townships of Morson and McCrosson, from Lake of the Woods Provincial Park to the Big Grassy Indian Reserve 35G.
The First Nations advised that as Anishinaabe people they wished to protect the sacredness of these shoreline lands, used in passing on teachings, and carrying out ceremonies. The loss of the use of those lands caused great emotional stress and a heavy spiritual toll on the Anishinaabe people throughout the area.
After an extensive historical and legal review, the governments of Canada and Ontario agreed in 1980 to begin negotiations. Formal discussions among the four parties commenced in 1982. Throughout the negotiations, the First Nations consistently stated that any acceptable settlement would have to include land.
It was not until the Chiefs of Treaty #3 organized their own Grand Council in 1970 that the Assabaska First Nations gained the research capability to pursue this issue. And in 1977, the First Nations of Mishkosiimiiniiziibing (Big Grassy River) and the Anishinaabeg of Onigaming filed notice of our “claim’ to the Assabaska shoreline reserve against the governments of Ontario and Canada. Both the Ontario and 
Canadian governments accepted this issue for negotiations in 1980.
In September of 1993 the parties asked the Indian Commission of Ontario to begin chairing the discussions. The Commission is a neutral facilitator established in the 1970s by Canada, Ontario and First Nations Chiefs in Ontario. Its mandate is to help the parties reach agreements on land claims and other key issues.
In March, 1996 the idea of the transfer of lands within the Lake of the Woods Provincial Park, subject to public consultation, was placed on the negotiating table for consideration. In July, 1996 the negotiators agreed to recommend the key elements of the proposed settlement to their respective governments. Further details of the proposed settlement were clarified in May, 1997.
The First Nations have shared general information with the public about the Assabaska Shoreline Reserve issue on several occasions since 1977. That year the First Nations wrote to local patent holders, and in subsequent years have shared information with local residents at fish fries and information sessions. In 1995, The First Nations produced a video called, “Healing an Old Wound: Reclaiming the Assabaska Shoreline Reserve”. The video has been aired on local cable stations and is available from the First Nations.
"This land belongs to the Anishinaabe because we were always here...before anybody else. The Creator put us on this land to take care of it, and that's what we're going to do...Every Anishinaabe (Ojibway) name."
-- Fred Copenace, Mishkosiimiiniiziibing